Need advice on autism.

[Kirsty88x]

Hi, it's my first time on mumsnet and I'm a bit confused on how to contact mums in the same situation.

My son Jayden is 5 years old and me and his dad have noticed signs since he's been around 1 years old. He has always had poor eye contact since a baby. Jayden doesn't like pooing he says it hurts and is on medication for it.

He stopped speaking (words) for about 2 months when he was 2 years old. When this happened we arranged to see a doctor who seen him for a year (till 3 years old) and said he was fine and not to worry.

Since then Jayden has developed more signs with holding his ears at certain noises especially baby's crying, over reacts with the most simplest things, he doesn't go naps through the whole day until its bedtime. He does show tiredness but refuses to go a nap and becomes upset about it, puts in 13 hour shifts (6:30am - 7:30pm).

His teacher has came to me and said that he likes to sit side ways on his classroom chair looking at white board, he doesn't like to be touched by school friends/children and he's mirror writing some words.

Jayden refuses to go play with the school children before the bell in the morning and wants to stand with me or his dad, when bell does go he likes to be the 4th from the back and if he can't get in he becomes upset.

Now we've arranged to see a pediatric doctor again and spoken with her and she said he is showing signs of autism but not enough to be diagnosed..?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Has the doctor actually assessed him? I'd ask for this to be done properly as a starting point and it should be done by a developmental pediatrician, not just any pediatrician.

Thanks for the quick reply.

As far as we know he has never been assessed. Doctor normally just asks us questions about Jayden, while they watch him or then ask him to do things.

She is a community pediatrician.

I don't know what a community pediatrician is, just that autism assessments are carried out by developmental pediatricians. I would ask for a full assessment in your situation.

In my area diagnosis is done by a community paediatrician but I know it varies from area to area. In some places it is done by CAMHS. They usually see you first for a diagnostic interview. If from that they think your child needs it they will put your child forward for a 3-4 hr assessment. They use the ADOS to assess and a child has to gain a certain score for a diagnosis. It sounds like they haven't put your son forward for full assessment but usually if a parent insists they will. So if you're worried, call them and insist on a full assessment